Open Access
On the requirements of the power converter for second-life lithium-ion batteries
(IEEE, 2019) Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Pascual Miqueleiz, Julio María; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
The use of lithium-ion batteries is increasing year after year, especially in the automotive sector. Given the high requirements of electric vehicles, their energy storage systems are discarded when they still have around 70% of its initial capacity. These discarded batteries are being studied as a low-price option for stationary systems, mostly related to renewable energy generation, with lower battery requirements. However, the increasing dispersion of cell capacity detailed in this contribution limits the use of second-life cells if regular battery management systems and power converters. We present in this contribution an experimental comparison of the capacity dispersion between fresh and second-life cells, and detail the relationship between the capacity dispersion and the required BMS functionality. Furthermore, we include the ageing phenomena in the analysis by means of experimental ageing results, given that the capacity dispersion is enlarged as the battery ages. After this, we use this data to quantify advantages and disadvantages of a combined BMS and power converter, based on a multilevel topology, compared to a conventional BMS. The most relevant result, when a 55-cell battery is analysed, is a 65% increase in capacity during its whole second life if the BMS and power converter are combined by means of a multilevel topology. The increased level of complexity required by the combined BMS-power converter architecture is analysed in this contribution, providing a convenient tool for the selection of the most suitable option for each application.
Open Access
Static and dynamic characterization of a supercapacitor
(2014) Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
Supercapacitors (SCs) have recently received a major boost as a result of the development of multiple applications, such as the electric vehicle and electric microgrids. Storage systems consisting of SCs combined with batteries or fuel cells have been proposed in multiple applications. Since SCs store energy as an electric field, they are able to efficiently manage high power and high frequency charge‐discharge cycles. This ability to handle high power in a wide frequency range grants them a wide advantage against other energy‐storage technologies. A static and dynamic characterization of the Maxwell SC BMOD0083 has been accomplished in this study.
Open Access
Hydrogen-based energy storage for a distributed generation system
(Spanish Hydrogen Association, 2016) San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
One of the most typical distributed generation systems are electrical microgrid, which consist on small electrical grids, generally connected to the main grid, with a decentralized management structure. Electrical microgrids allow higher renewable energy integration in the grid, achieving a cost decrease and improving the grid quality [1]. These mi- crogrids incorporate renewable generation systems and energy consumers. Moreover, they have storage systems to balance generation and consumption as well as the exchanged power with the main grid. Traditionally, lead-acid batter- ies have been used in microgrids. However, these batteries have some drawbacks, being the most important its poor performance in partial state of charge, which is critical for a microgrid. A suitable option for the storage system is hy- drogen technology. These systems have high energy density, which makes the storage system able to assume seasonal variability of renewable resources. This paper proposes a sizing methodology for storage systems based on hydrogen for grid-tied electrical microgrids. This methodology optimizes the relationship between the storage system size and the consumption of grid power.
Open Access
Experimental assessment of first- and second-life electric vehicle batteries: performance, capacity dispersion, and aging
(IEEE, 2021) Braco Sola, Elisa; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Nowadays, the reuse of electric vehicle batteries is considered to be a feasible alternative to recycling, as it allows them to benefit from their remaining energy capacity and to enlarge their lifetime. Stationary applications, such as self-consumption or off-grid systems support, are examples of second-life (SL) uses for retired batteries. However, reused modules that compose these batteries have heterogeneous properties, which limit their performance. This article aims to assess the influence of degradation in modules from electric vehicles, covering three main aspects: performance, capacity dispersion, and extended SL behavior. First, a complete characterization of new and reused modules is carried out, considering three temperatures and three discharge rates. In the second stage, intra- and intermodule capacity dispersions are evaluated with new and reused samples. Finally, the behavior during SL is also analyzed, through an accelerated cycling test so that the evolution of capacity and dispersion are assessed. Experimental results show that the performance of reused modules is especially undermined at low temperatures and high current rates, as well as in advanced stages of aging. The intramodule dispersion is found to be similar in reused and new samples, while the intermodule differences are nearly four times greater in SL.
Open Access
Electro-thermal modelling of a supercapacitor and experimental validation
(Elsevier, 2014) Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Hernández, Andoni; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
This paper reports on the electro-thermal modelling of a Maxwell supercapacitor (SC), model BMOD0083 with a rated capacitance of 83 F and rated voltage of 48 V. One electrical equivalent circuit was used to model the electrical behaviour whilst another served to simulate the thermal behaviour. The models were designed to predict the SC operating voltage and temperature, by taking the electric current and ambient temperature as input variables. A five-stage iterative method, applied to three experiments, served to obtain the parameter values for each model. The models were implemented in MATLABSimulink , where they interacted to reciprocally provide information. These models were then validated through a number of tests, subjecting the SC to different current and frequency profiles. These tests included the validation of a bank of supercapacitors integrated into an electric microgrid, in a real operating environment. Satisfactory results were obtained from the electric and thermal models, with RMSE values of less than 0.65 V in all validations.
Open Access
Influence of the aging model of lithium-ion batteries on the management of PV self-consumption systems
(IEEE, 2018) Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Pascual Miqueleiz, Julio María; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, PI038 INTEGRA-RENOVABLES
Lithium-ion batteries are gaining importance for a variety of applications due to their improving characteristics and decreasing price. An accurate knowledge of their aging is required for a successful use of these ESSs. The vast number of models that has been proposed to predict these phenomena raise doubts about the suitability of a model for a particular battery application. The performance of three models published for a Sanyo 18650 cylindrical cell in a self-consumption system are compared in this work. Measured photovoltaic production and home consumption with a sampling frequency of 15 minutes are used for this comparison. The different aging predictions calculated by these three models are analyzed, compared and discussed. These comparison is particularized for two management strategies. The first of them maximizes the self-consumption PV energy, while the second reduces the maximum power peak demanded from the grid.
Open Access
Supercapacitors: electrical characteristics, modelling, applications and future trends
(IEEE, 2019) Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Eftekhari, Ali; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, PI020 RENEWABLE-STORAGE
Energy storage systems are playing an increasingly important role in a variety of applications, such as electric vehicles or grid-connected systems. In this context, supercapacitors (SCs) are gaining ground due to their high power density, good performance and long maintenance-free lifetime. For this reason, SCs are a hot research topic, and several papers are being published on material engineering, performance characterization, modelling and post-mortem analysis. A compilation of the most important millstones on this topic is essential to keep researchers on related fields updated about new potentials of this technology. This review paper covers recent research aspects and applications of SCs, highlighting the relationship between material properties and electrical characteristics. It begins with an explanation of the energy storage mechanisms and materials used by SCs. Based on these materials, the SCs are classified, their key features are summarised, and their electrochemical characteristics are related to electrical performance. Given the high interest in system modelling and the large number of papers published on this topic, modelling techniques are classified, explained and compared, addressing their strengths and weaknesses, and the experimental techniques used to measure the modelled properties are described. Finally, the market sectors in which SCs are successfully used, as well as their growth expectations are analysed. The analysis presented herein gives account of the expansion that SC market is currently undergoing and identifies the most promising research trends on this field.
Open Access
Hydrogen educational activities developed by APERNA: a renewable-energy student association
(Asociación Española del Hidrógeno, 2016) Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Samanes Pascual, Javier; Pascual Miqueleiz, Julio María; Barrios Rípodas, Ernesto; Parra Laita, Íñigo de la; Urtasun Erburu, Andoni; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
In this paper, we present APERNA, a recently-created student association at Public University of Navarre (UPNA) with the aim of promotion of renewable energies.
Open Access
Comparison of State-of-Charge estimation methods for stationary Lithium-ion batteries
(IEEE, 2016) Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
An accurate monitoring of the State of Charge (SoC) is mandatory for an efficient management of a Lithium-ion battery. Batteries of stationary systems barely have long resting periods when the cumulative errors can be reset. These special requirements make a robust and accurate SoC estimation algorithm necessary. A real stationary system including an experimental microgrid with renewable energy generation, home consumption and a 5.3 kWh Li-ion storage system is analyzed in this paper. Three representative SoC monitoring algorithms are applied and compared in terms of accuracy and robustness to battery aging and current measurement offset. A closed-loop method consisting of an adaptive filter and a state observer achieves best results while having a reasonable computational complexity.
Open Access
Experimental assessment of cycling ageing of lithium-ion second-life batteries from electric vehicles
(Elsevier, 2020) Braco Sola, Elisa; San Martín Biurrun, Idoia; Berrueta Irigoyen, Alberto; Sanchis Gúrpide, Pablo; Ursúa Rubio, Alfredo; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, 0011–1411–2018–000029 GERA; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, ReBMS PJUPNA1904
The reutilization of batteries from electric vehicles allows to benefit from their remaining energy capacity and to increase their lifespan. The applications considered for the second life of these batteries are less demanding than electric vehicles regarding power and energy density. However, there is still some uncertainty regarding the technical and economic viability of these systems. In this context, the study of the ageing and lifetime of reused batteries is key to contribute to their development. This paper assesses the experimental cycle ageing of lithium-ion modules from different Nissan Leaf through accelerated cycling tests on their second life. The evolution of the internal parameters during ageing and the correlation between them are shown, including the analysis of best fitting curves. In addition, a second-life end-of-life criterion is proposed, based on capacity and internal resistance measurements during cells ageing, which can be applied to real application in order to prevent safety issues. By estimating future values from degradation trends and checking latter measurements, the ageing knee is identified. Results show that the modules operate for at least 2033 equivalent full cycles before reaching their ageing knee. This would mean more than 5 years of operation in a real second-life application, such as a photovoltaic self-consumption installation with daily cycling. Moreover, it is shown that a traditional cell characterisation based on capacity and internal resistance measurements is not enough to predict the durability of a cell during its second life.